What Will Your New Year’s Resolution Be This Year? [POLL]

Another year is coming to a close and that means we have to make a resolution for the New Year. But where did this tradition come from?

It is believed that the origin of celebrating the new year came from the Babylonians. However in those days they didn't have our current calendar and their new year was celebrated on what is now March 23. This makes sense to have it in the Spring when everything is new. Fresh growth on plants and new crops are planted.

It wasn't until 153 B.C. that we started seeing resolutions appearing in culture. The Romans placed Janus, the mythical king of early Rome, on the head of their calendar. Janus has two faces so he could look back on past events and look forward into the future. Janus became the ancient symbol for resolutions and the Romans would look back on the prior year and ask forgiveness of their enemies before the new year took place.

This tradition continues today with people making and breaking resolutions every year. Some of the most popular resolutions are losing weight, quitting smoking or drinking and spending more time with your family.

About 45% of us will make one or more resolutions each year and, of those, only 46% will still maintain their resolution after 6 months. So why do we do it? Tradition mostly, but research shows that making a resolution is useful. People who make a resolution are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don't.

Some people want to have a goal and a New Year's Resolution is the perfect way for them to set it and achieve it. Others can set a goal and do it all on their own. Either way, we should all take a look back at 2011 and figure out at least one thing we need to do better in 2012 and do it.

What will your resolution be for 1/1/2012? Take our poll below and let us know. If yours isn't listed, tell us what it is by commenting below. Happy New Years!